Puncheon fires Saints to victory

Saints moved out of the Premier League relegation zone after Jason Puncheon's second-half strike proved the difference against fellow strugglers Reading.

The Royals pipped Saints to the Championship crown last term, but the hosts exacted some revenge this afternoon.

The south-coast club started brightly at St Mary's, but Reading looked dangerous on the break and had strong penalty appeals waved away when Jay Tabb appeared to be clipped in the box.

Southampton felt aggrieved themselves moments later when a Puncheon header was chalked off, before they lost influential captain Adam Lallana to a knee injury.

Hal Robson-Kanu rattled the post in first-half stoppage time but Saints continued to threaten after the break, getting their just rewards in the 61st minute when Puncheon lashed home what proved to be the winner.

The main talking point coming into the match was goalkeeper Kelvin Davis' return, having not started in the Premier League since the 6-1 mauling at Arsenal in mid-September.

The club captain replaced the injured Paulo Gazzaniga, while Gaston Ramirez dropped to the bench having spent the week in Uruguay on compassionate grounds.

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Saints soon felt hard done by themselves as Puncheon had a 34th-minute opener disallowed after an altercation between Federici and Maya Yoshida in the build-up.

Southampton boss Nigel Adkins was forced to shuffle the pack as half-time approached after captain Lallana suffered a knee injury, resulting in an early-than-planned introduction for Ramirez.

Puncheon had a shot deflected behind and Yoshida saw a header cleared off the line by Cummings as Saints pushed for a half-time lead, although Robson-Kanu saw a header rebound back off the post in stoppage time at the other end.

Reading were on top as the second half resumed but Saints soon found their feet, with Puncheon forcing Federici into action low to his left six minutes in.

Rodriguez's chest and volley rolled wide as Saints continued to press and, after Sean Morrison and Yoshida both received treatment, they had the lead.

Lambert played through Clyne and his ball was controlled by Puncheon, who continued to fire a right-footed strike across Federici into the far corner.

Rodriguez saw penalty appeals rejected moments after the 61st-minute goal, although a poor Clyne clearance would have cost Southampton immediately had Jobi McAnuff's shot been lower.

Morrison was replaced by Alex Pearce in the 65th minute after his earlier knock and Noel Hunt soon came on for Tabb as Reading boss Brian McDermott looked to claw a goal back.

The move to a three-pronged attack almost paid dividends immediately as Adam Le Fondre nodded just wide after a poor headed clearance by Clyne.

Federici almost sliced a backpass into his own goal and then did well to did well to hold onto a Clyne cross-shot.

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Guly do Prado was booed by sections of the home fans when replacing Rodriguez 12 minutes from time, although he soon hushed those naysayers with a long-range effort that curled just over after Puncheon again came close.

Reading threatened from late set-pieces and Do Prado was denied from close range, but it remained 1-0 as Saints collected their second clean sheet of the season.

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Comments (15)

Sitting pretty in 15th and a nice 2 week break ahead. Sunderland next who have to slub it out with Reading in the meantime. Let's hope AL is fully rested and recovered by then! Well done Saints, well done Nigel!

Sitting pretty in 15th and a nice 2 week break ahead. Sunderland next who have to slub it out with Reading in the meantime.
Let's hope AL is fully rested and recovered by then!
Well done Saints, well done Nigel!Little Hitler

Sitting pretty in 15th and a nice 2 week break ahead. Sunderland next who have to slub it out with Reading in the meantime. Let's hope AL is fully rested and recovered by then! Well done Saints, well done Nigel!

Score: 0

Little Hitler says...5:24pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Slug LOL

Slug LOLLittle Hitler

Slug LOL

Score: 0

Strasbourg Saint says...5:38pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Sleep well, guys. Let me know if the heat gets to you and I'll send a chilly, icy, snow-filled breeze your way from Strasbourg. As for the match. In short, I fear for Reading. We weren't at our absolute best, lost a key player (I know they did later, but not as vital) and we only looked like conceding if the ref gifted a late pen. Should have won by 2 or 3.The disallowed goal????? wtf!!! (As Nigel has just said). Motm? Yep, Punch. Not just the goal and chances, his off-the-ball running, ball retention and passing was all top. Guly? A decent cameo. Defence? Solid against a free-scoring attack. Goalie? Don't care. It's the choice of the managerial team. Whoever is picked, I'll support. A clean sheet? That's more than Kunt141 will have this weekend. Adam? Let's hope the break has come at the right time for him.

Sleep well, guys. Let me know if the heat gets to you and I'll send a chilly, icy, snow-filled breeze your way from Strasbourg.
As for the match. In short, I fear for Reading. We weren't at our absolute best, lost a key player (I know they did later, but not as vital) and we only looked like conceding if the ref gifted a late pen.
Should have won by 2 or 3.The disallowed goal????? wtf!!! (As Nigel has just said).
Motm? Yep, Punch. Not just the goal and chances, his off-the-ball running, ball retention and passing was all top.
Guly? A decent cameo.
Defence? Solid against a free-scoring attack.
Goalie? Don't care. It's the choice of the managerial team. Whoever is picked, I'll support. A clean sheet? That's more than Kunt141 will have this weekend.
Adam? Let's hope the break has come at the right time for him.Strasbourg Saint

Sleep well, guys. Let me know if the heat gets to you and I'll send a chilly, icy, snow-filled breeze your way from Strasbourg. As for the match. In short, I fear for Reading. We weren't at our absolute best, lost a key player (I know they did later, but not as vital) and we only looked like conceding if the ref gifted a late pen. Should have won by 2 or 3.The disallowed goal????? wtf!!! (As Nigel has just said). Motm? Yep, Punch. Not just the goal and chances, his off-the-ball running, ball retention and passing was all top. Guly? A decent cameo. Defence? Solid against a free-scoring attack. Goalie? Don't care. It's the choice of the managerial team. Whoever is picked, I'll support. A clean sheet? That's more than Kunt141 will have this weekend. Adam? Let's hope the break has come at the right time for him.

Score: 0

Strasbourg Saint says...5:41pm Sat 8 Dec 12

(Sorry, last comment was for our Aussie and Kiwi late-night fans) btw, where's Norgie? ..... ...... Chris Tarrent, Cilla Black, Michael Parkinson (all regulars at the Maj Stad), Rickie Gervais, Kate Winslett and all the little Strassies' school mates around Reading who support their local team ...... ...... your boys took a hell of a beating ...... A HELL OF A BEATING!!!!!

(Sorry, last comment was for our Aussie and Kiwi late-night fans)
btw, where's Norgie? .....
...... Chris Tarrent, Cilla Black, Michael Parkinson (all regulars at the Maj Stad), Rickie Gervais, Kate Winslett and all the little Strassies' school mates around Reading who support their local team ......
...... your boys took a hell of a beating ...... A HELL OF A BEATING!!!!!Strasbourg Saint

(Sorry, last comment was for our Aussie and Kiwi late-night fans) btw, where's Norgie? ..... ...... Chris Tarrent, Cilla Black, Michael Parkinson (all regulars at the Maj Stad), Rickie Gervais, Kate Winslett and all the little Strassies' school mates around Reading who support their local team ...... ...... your boys took a hell of a beating ...... A HELL OF A BEATING!!!!!

Score: 0

daddyrichie869 says...5:45pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Reading have strong penalty appeals turned down, no-one even appealed!!! Come on Daily Echo, gets something right once in a while

Reading have strong penalty appeals turned down, no-one even appealed!!! Come on Daily Echo, gets something right once in a whiledaddyrichie869

Reading have strong penalty appeals turned down, no-one even appealed!!! Come on Daily Echo, gets something right once in a while

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saintkenny says...5:49pm Sat 8 Dec 12

daddyrichie869 wrote…

Reading have strong penalty appeals turned down, no-one even appealed!!! Come on Daily Echo, gets something right once in a while

none of the team did .only the manager .and it was not a penalty.watch mod tonight hansen will clarify that or who ever is on tonight

[quote][p][bold]daddyrichie869[/bold] wrote:
Reading have strong penalty appeals turned down, no-one even appealed!!! Come on Daily Echo, gets something right once in a while[/p][/quote]none of the team did .only the manager .and it was not a penalty.watch mod tonight hansen will clarify that or who ever is on tonightsaintkenny

daddyrichie869 wrote…

Reading have strong penalty appeals turned down, no-one even appealed!!! Come on Daily Echo, gets something right once in a while

none of the team did .only the manager .and it was not a penalty.watch mod tonight hansen will clarify that or who ever is on tonight

Score: 0

dadofmy3sons says...5:54pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Saints had a lot of appeals turned down. For instance the incident where Adam got injured and later when Shaw got flattened. Reading played a different style than when we played in the Championship, they were a bit more physical. At the beginning of this season I feared that we would get battered by the likes of Stoke and Jayrod would need to beef up. He appears to have toughened because he wasn't knocked off the ball today and was determined in all his challenges and running for the others. The whole team is coming together. I like it !!!!! Support the Saints, I do

Saints had a lot of appeals turned down.
For instance the incident where Adam got injured and later when Shaw got flattened.
Reading played a different style than when we played in the Championship, they were a bit more physical.
At the beginning of this season I feared that we would get battered by the likes of Stoke and Jayrod would need to beef up. He appears to have toughened because he wasn't knocked off the ball today and was determined in all his challenges and running for the others.
The whole team is coming together.
I like it !!!!!
Support the Saints, I dodadofmy3sons

Saints had a lot of appeals turned down. For instance the incident where Adam got injured and later when Shaw got flattened. Reading played a different style than when we played in the Championship, they were a bit more physical. At the beginning of this season I feared that we would get battered by the likes of Stoke and Jayrod would need to beef up. He appears to have toughened because he wasn't knocked off the ball today and was determined in all his challenges and running for the others. The whole team is coming together. I like it !!!!! Support the Saints, I do

Score: 0

Puddletown Saint says...5:56pm Sat 8 Dec 12

WOW that was squeaky bum time. Lets hope Sunderand pick up a few injuries and suspensions in the next fortnight. Great team effort today. And calm........

WOW that was squeaky bum time. Lets hope Sunderand pick up a few injuries and suspensions in the next fortnight.
Great team effort today. And calm........Puddletown Saint

WOW that was squeaky bum time. Lets hope Sunderand pick up a few injuries and suspensions in the next fortnight. Great team effort today. And calm........

Score: 0

holburyhalo says...6:12pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Well done the lads out of the relegation zone and on the up.This is going to put pressure on all the other teams around us coyr.

Well done the lads out of the relegation zone and on the up.This is going to put pressure on all the other teams around us coyr.holburyhalo

Well done the lads out of the relegation zone and on the up.This is going to put pressure on all the other teams around us coyr.

Score: 0

Saintsincethe60s says...7:27pm Sat 8 Dec 12

A good all round display today could and should have scored more. Luke Shaw IS something special only seventeen and playing like a seasoned pro, calm and assured. After watching that display today albeit against a weak team I now have no fears that we will be relegated, as I think there are definitely at least three more teams worse than us. Keep the faith the lads are all still playing as a team and it was a joy to watch.

A good all round display today could and should have scored more. Luke Shaw IS something special only seventeen and playing like a seasoned pro, calm and assured. After watching that display today albeit against a weak team I now have no fears that we will be relegated, as I think there are definitely at least three more teams worse than us.
Keep the faith the lads are all still playing as a team and it was a joy to watch.Saintsincethe60s

A good all round display today could and should have scored more. Luke Shaw IS something special only seventeen and playing like a seasoned pro, calm and assured. After watching that display today albeit against a weak team I now have no fears that we will be relegated, as I think there are definitely at least three more teams worse than us. Keep the faith the lads are all still playing as a team and it was a joy to watch.

Score: 0

Reality-man says...7:45pm Sat 8 Dec 12

I don't rate Guly at all,and wouldn't miss him if he left but booing the fella when he's about to come on at the end of the game is wrong. we have to support every player who puts our shirt on. Together as one

I don't rate Guly at all,and wouldn't miss him if he left but booing the fella when he's about to come on at the end of the game is wrong. we have to support every player who puts our shirt on. Together as oneReality-man

I don't rate Guly at all,and wouldn't miss him if he left but booing the fella when he's about to come on at the end of the game is wrong. we have to support every player who puts our shirt on. Together as one

Score: 0

Sir Ad E Noid says...8:08pm Sat 8 Dec 12

Reality-man wrote…

I don't rate Guly at all,and wouldn't miss him if he left but booing the fella when he's about to come on at the end of the game is wrong. we have to support every player who puts our shirt on. Together as one

Totally agree.

[quote][p][bold]Reality-man[/bold] wrote:
I don't rate Guly at all,and wouldn't miss him if he left but booing the fella when he's about to come on at the end of the game is wrong. we have to support every player who puts our shirt on. Together as one[/p][/quote]Totally agree.Sir Ad E Noid

Reality-man wrote…

I don't rate Guly at all,and wouldn't miss him if he left but booing the fella when he's about to come on at the end of the game is wrong. we have to support every player who puts our shirt on. Together as one

Totally agree.

Score: 0

OSPREYSAINT says...9:05pm Sat 8 Dec 12

I don't think we have seen the best of Guly yet, because he hasn't been played in the position where he is most dangerous to the opposition. He gives the impression of being a bit of a "luxury" player, but when the rest of the team is firing on all cylinders, the so called "luxury" player can be at their best and absolutely lethal to the opposition. Probably not room for Ramirez and Guly in the team at the same time, but it was working today.

I don't think we have seen the best of Guly yet, because he hasn't been played in the position where he is most dangerous to the opposition. He gives the impression of being a bit of a "luxury" player, but when the rest of the team is firing on all cylinders, the so called "luxury" player can be at their best and absolutely lethal to the opposition. Probably not room for Ramirez and Guly in the team at the same time, but it was working today.OSPREYSAINT

I don't think we have seen the best of Guly yet, because he hasn't been played in the position where he is most dangerous to the opposition. He gives the impression of being a bit of a "luxury" player, but when the rest of the team is firing on all cylinders, the so called "luxury" player can be at their best and absolutely lethal to the opposition. Probably not room for Ramirez and Guly in the team at the same time, but it was working today.

Score: 0

shongwe06 says...8:16pm Sun 9 Dec 12

well done 2 wins so far this season you ditry scummers you must be so proud well done top team in the prem more like shittest team who got lucky

well done 2 wins so far this season you ditry scummers you must be so proud well done top team in the prem more like shittest team who got luckyshongwe06

well done 2 wins so far this season you ditry scummers you must be so proud well done top team in the prem more like shittest team who got lucky

Score: 0

fritzer says...10:27pm Sun 9 Dec 12

Watch out in the school play ground on Monday son, as you'll never know who's Red or Blue and who's waiting for you. Hope they give you a good part in the School panto, as you are well qualified to play the part of a donky, you are not bright enough to be a star.

Watch out in the school play ground on Monday son, as you'll never know who's Red or Blue and who's waiting for you.
Hope they give you a good part in the School panto, as you are well qualified to play the part of a donky, you are not bright enough to be a star.fritzer

Watch out in the school play ground on Monday son, as you'll never know who's Red or Blue and who's waiting for you. Hope they give you a good part in the School panto, as you are well qualified to play the part of a donky, you are not bright enough to be a star.

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